If you have a domestic driving licence you may drive in the UK for the first 12 months after you arrive, as long as the UK has an exchange arrangement with your own country (see table below).
For countries where we don't have a exchange agreement you will need to apply for an International Driving Permit (IDP).
The IDP is only valid if your domestic licence is full and in-date for the full 12 months, so make sure you check the details.
Quick summary table
The table below shows you how long you can drive on your ordinary non-GB licence as a visitor or resident. Please see the relevant section for information on vocational licences.
| Country | Duration as a visitor | Duration as a resident |
| EC/EEA | Validity of own licence | Validity of own licence |
| Northern Ireland | Validity of own licence | Validity of own licence |
| Countries we have driving licence exchange agreements with (designated countries) | 12 months from date of entry | 12 months from date of entry, then exchange own licence for GB licence |
| Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man | 12 months from date of entry | 12 months from date of entry, then exchange own licence for GB licence provided own licence issued after 1 April 1991 |
| All other countries | 12 months from date of entry | 12 months from date of entry, apply for provisional licence as soon as you arrive and book your UK test. |
*Countries we have a driving licence exchange agreement with:
Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland and Zimbabwe.
To continue to drive after 12 months of being in the UK or if you don’t hold a driving licence/international driving permit you MUST hold a UK Driving Licence.
To obtain a UK Driving Licence you must provide proof you have been residing in the UK for 185 days within the past 12 months
Steps to take
- You need a provisional driving licence to take lessons or practice driving .
- Apply for provisional licence
- Review and learn highway code
- Take driving lessons
- Practice vehicle safety questions
- You Need to have passed a theory test before you can take your driving test
- Preparation
- Theory test revision and practice
- Practice theory test
- Theory hazard and perception test – App
- You need a provisional licence to book a theory test
- Theory tests cost £23* to book
- You must take your provisional licence to your test
- Preparation
- You need to have a provisional licence and have passed your theory test before you can take your driving test
- Driving tests cost £62-£75*
You can start to drive as soon as you have passed your Driving Test, You must have an insurance policy which allows you to drive without supervision.
*costs correct as of 22 July 2021.
Provisional Licence and Theory and Driving Tests fees can be found at https://www.gov.uk/driving-licence-fees
The fees below were correct as of 22 July 2021.
Get your first GB driving licence
|
Apply online
|
Apply by post
|
|
| First provisional licence - car, motocycle, moped |
£34
|
£43
|
| First full driving licence after passing your driving text |
N/A
|
Free - £17 to use a different photo from your provisional |
| First full GB licence in exchange for a full European Community, European Economic Area or other designated foreign licence |
N/A
|
£43
|
Car
| Weekdays | Evenings, weekends and bank holidays | |
| Theory test |
£23
|
£23
|
| Driving test |
£62
|
£75
|
| Extended driving test for disqualified drivers |
£124
|
£150
|
Important notes
You need to be supervised to learn how to drive. You can choose to learn with friends or family, if the supervisor meets these criteria: be 21 or older, be qualified to drive the type of vehicle you want to learn in, (for example, they must have a manual car licence if they’re supervising you in a manual car), and has had a full driving licence from the European Economic Area for more than 3 years. Please note that this option won't allow you to drive on motorways.
Most UK citizens learn to drive with a driving instructor approved by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). These instructors will be allowed to take you to the motorway if the car is fitted with dual controls. They are experts in equipping you with the skills to navigate the roads in the UK and ensuring you have learnt safe driving practices. Every car you practice with must be insured for a learner driver, so don't forget to check with the car owner.
Indicative costs
Lessons with a Driving Instructor cost between £875 and £1200 (based on suggested driving experience of 35 to 40hrs x £25-£30 per hour instructional cost). Costs may fluctuate due to location, availability of lessons and type of vehicle licence being sought, i.e. Automatic versus manual.
Costs thereafter include:
- Car purchase
- Road Tax
- MOT certificate
- Ongoing maintenance
- Parking and fuel.
Guidance to driving in the UK
There are three main types of road in the UK
- Motorways
- A roads - Primary roads
- B roads - Non Primary roads.
Motorways are high-speed roads where vehicles are permitted to drive at 70 miles per hour (mph). Pedestrians and slower modes of transportation are prohibited.
A roads / Primary roads (often referred to as single or dual carriageways) impose different speed limits which are clearly marked and are generally used to connect less populated areas.
B roads / Non Primary Road Similar speed restrictions are in place on nonprimary roads, which usually offer an alternate route to primary roads.